Stellar fate A newly discovered planetary nebula, the last gasps of a dying star, could provide scientists with answers about the ultimate fate of our Sun and solar system including the Earth.

The discovery by a team of astronomers including Associate Professor Orsola De Marco from Sydney's Macquarie University, could also help resolve a decades-old debate about the impact stellar companions have on the formation and structure of planetary nebulae.

De Marco used the Kitt Peak National Observatory in the United States to confirm the new nebula which has been called Kronberger-61 after its discoverer Matthias Kronberger, a member of an amateur astronomy group known as the Deep Sky Hunters.

Rare and valuable gems

More than 3000 planetary nebula have been discovered so far, but according to De Marco, "Kronberger-61 is among a rather small collection strategically placed within Kepler's gaze".

"Explaining the puffs left behind when medium-sized stars like our Sun expel their last breaths is a source of heated debate among astronomers, especially the part that companions might play."

"Planetary nebulae present a profound mystery that literally keeps us up at night."

"Some recent theories suggest that planetary nebulae form only in close binary or even planetary systems. On the other hand, the conventional textbook explanation is that most stars, even solo stars like our Sun, will meet this fate."

But De Marco says, "That might just be too simple".

A key question with planetary nebulae is how companions (stars or planets) close to around the central, primary star might impact the complex structures seen in many planetary nebulae.

But so far only about 20 per cent of planetary mebulae have been found with companions.

Astronomers believe this may due to the companion being too small or distant for current ground-based telescopes. It is hoped the space-based Kepler telescope will find more.

"With a sufficient sample of planetary nebulae, Kepler could help us understand these objects and may even put to rest the 30-year old debate about the origin of these nebulae," says De Marco.

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